Carriage fire-ladder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. DEDERIGK.

'GARRIAGE 'PIRE LADDER.

. g tamed Apr. 6, 1886.

N, PETERS. Pmmum n m, Wuhinglon. u. a

(No Model.) 2 Sheefis-Sheet 2.

L. DEDERIGK.

CARRIAGE FIRE LADDER.

N0. 339 N Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

J32 van to 2.

N. PETERS. Phnto-Llfllognphur. Washington. 0. c

UNITE STATES LEVI DEDERICK, OF ALBANY, NEV YORK.

CARRIAGE FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,273, dated April 6, 1886.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEvr DEDERICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriage Fire Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carriage fire-escapes, in which are employed, with a carriage, extension ladders, a turntable,mechanism for operating theladders and table, and a carriage adapted to be moved in either direction over the ladders when ex tended and elevated; and it consists in the devices and elements and the combinations and arrangements of devices and elements hereinafter particularly described,and specifi cally set forth in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to provide a carriage fire-escape with means for the elevation and extension of escape ladders and their adjustment in relation to the windows or other openings in buildings, and with a carriage which can be moved at will from the platform below to the upper end of the extendedladders and return. I attain these objects by the means illustratedin the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved carriage fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the forward end of the same. Fig. 4 is a view of the mechanism employed for elevating the ladders viewed from the front when the ladders are elevated. Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the tracks of the escape-carriage with the ladders, and arrangement of the wheels or rollers of the carriage with said tracks and the body of the carriage. Fig. 6 is a view of the terminal ends of the ladders.

The same letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

A represents a carriage, of suitable construction, for supporting and transporting the operating parts of this tire-escape.

Bis a suitable platform supported on the springs of carriage A, preferably so that the wheels of the carriage will readily turn under the same.

0 is ajcircular rack secured to platform B,

and having its upper horizontal surface, 0, operating as a bearing-surface to circular turntable D, which latter revolves on the pivotbolt (1 and supports the platform E, which carries the operating mechanism. This turntable is moved by the means of pinion a, which is mounted in suitable bearings secured to said turn-table, and has its teeth working in the teeth of circular rack c, as shown in Fig. 2. This actuating-pinion is located at any suitable point on the periphery of the turntable, and is provided with a suitable hand wheel or crank for operating it.

Secured to the forward portion of the upper platform, E, is the windlass-frame F, which holds the windlass G,for elevating the ladders L L, and windlass G, for extending the same. The main ladder L is pivoted at its foot end with frame F by means of the shaft of windlass G, preferably, which shaft passes through suitable sleeves, eyes, or bearings secured to the forward or foot ends of the side rails of said ladder L, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Being thus pivoted this ladder is free to have its rearward portion elevated to any preferred height above the horizontal plane shown in full lines in Fig. l.

Arranged between platform E and main ladder L is the mechanism for elevating the latter by aid of Windlass G and rope g, connecting the drum of the latter with said mechanism. This elevating mechanism is preferably composed of the series of movable leverbars shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4., and consists of base lever-bars H H, traveling lever-bars H H, auxiliary parallel bars H H", and the tilting lever-bar H The base lever-bars H Hare firmly secured to roller 72, which is pivoted to platform E, so that said bars can be moved from position shown by full lines to that of dotted lines in Fig. 1. The upper ends of these bars H are connected by pivot-shaft 6 with traveling bars H H, at about the middle of the length of these latter bars, and this pivot-shaft serves as a fulcrum on which bars H will move, and also serves as a means for applying force to elevate the base lever-bars H H and hold them in a raised position. These bars H have their upper ends pivoted to tilt ing lever-bar H by means of pivot-bolt 0, while their lower ends are free and are provided with sheaves f. The upper end of tilt- I "SO ing lever-bar H is secured to roller 71, which pivots with the main ladder L, as shown, while its lower end is free, and is capable of being moved toward the sheave end of bars H H, and the reverse. Secured to the free foot end of this tilting lever-bar H, by means of eyeboltf, or its equivalent, is rope g. The auxiliary parallel barsH Hhay e their lower ends pivoted to the base lever-bars H H, at points about the middle of length of the latter, while their opposite ends, provided each with slot 1', are pivoted to lever-bar H A spool, f is arranged on the pivot-shaft which joins the lower ends of these parallel bars H H with the base-bars H H. Rope g of Windlass G is connected with the lower 'end of the tilting lever-bar and is run rearward over the upper side of spool f and to and around sheave, f at the lower ends of bars H H, and thence forward below spool f to the drum of Windlass G. \Vhen windlass G is operated in a proper direction by the hand-wheel I, the

pull on rope y will operate to draw the lower ends of the traveling bars H and lower end of the tilting lever-bar H toward each other or from position of full lines in Fig. 1, to that of dotted lines in the same figure, when the several bars H, H, H and H, turning on their respective pivots or fulcru ms, will be operated so as to cause the upper ends of lever-bar H to be progressively elevated above the plane of its normal position shown by full lines in Fig. l, and thereby elevate ladder L. A reverse operation of Windlass G permits the several bars, H, H, H", and H by reason of the weight of ladder L on them, to gradually assume the folded positions shown by full lines in Fig. 1.

L is the sliding ladder which with main ladder L form the extension-ladder employed in this invention. This sliding ladder L works between the side rails, r r, of the main ladder and slides rearwardly on the latter when the ladders are extended.

Secured to the rear end portions of the side rails r of main ladder L are brackets m m, carrying rollers 12 n, which are arranged rela tively over the upper edges of the side rails 'r" r of sliding ladder Lfso as to have a holding on the latter when it is moved. These brackets m and their rollers n operate to hold the foot or forward end of sliding ladder L in secure connection with the upper or rear end of the main ladder when the former is extended outward or upward.

Secured to the foot end of the sliding ladder L are the draw-ropes k, which are run back to sheaves or rollers K, mounted on a shaft having hearings in the side rails 1- r of the main ladder, and then passing round said' sheaves these draw-ropes run forward and connect with the drum of Windlass G. \Vhen this Windlass G is operated by hand-wheel I in the proper direction, the sliding ladder L will be moved back or upward.

N is an escape-carriage, which is arranged so as to be operated at will to be moved from the base or foot end of the main ladder to the rear terminal end of the sliding ladder L. The escape-carriage is shown to be made in the form of a short ladder, as shown, and operates as such for aflording convenient means for passage from platform E to main ladder L and return. This carriage is shown to be composed of side rails o 0 and rounds 0, suitably connected together, with a width (outside measure) which will admit of its moving between the side rails r r of the sliding ladder. This carriage is provided with small flanged wheels or rollers a a, which run on tracks or strips 8, secured to the inner sides of the respective side rails r r of the two ladders L L. The forward portion, 8, of the strips or tracks 8 at the foot end of the sliding ladder L are inclined, so as to connect in a suitable manner with the tracks 8, secured to the main ladder, so that the carriage can be moved in either direction the entire length of the extension of the ladders. The forward piece N of this escape-carriage is preferably made to fold from full lines in Fig. 1 to that in dotted lines in the same figure, and ropes or chains q hold the free end of this folding end piece N in connection with the rear or upper end portion of this escape-carriage, and also serve as guards and holdingpieces for occupants of the carriage to grasp. This escape-carriage is moved over the tracks or ways 8 s of ladders L L by means of ropes p, operated by Windlass P, actuated by gear mechanism 1?, Figs. 1 and 2. These operating-ropesp are connected with the rear end of the escape-carriage, and are run rearward to the sheaves 1;, connected with the rear end of the sliding ladder,and thence forward beneath the main ladder L to the drum of Windlass P, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

The manner in which the parts of my abovedescribed apparatus are operated is as follows: The apparatus is brought into any suitable or convenient situation and position for operations of its parts at the building to be communicated with, when the wheels W of the carriage A will be properly scotched and the platform B be propped by any suitable means, so as to relieve the springs of the Weight of the apparatus above and hold the said platform about level. The Windlass G will then be operated by hand-wheel I, when the pull on ropes g from the Windlass will operate to draw the sheave ends of lever-bars H and the foot end of lever-bar H toward each other, while at the same time the lifting-force of said ropes against the lower side of spool f", at the middle of length of lever-bars H, is utilized to assist in starting the movement of said lever-bars.

the ropes being continued, the sheave ends f of bars H will be drawn forward as said bars are moved on their common pivot-shaft e, and as levers the upper ends of these bars H will be moved upwardly and relatively rearwardly, so as to elevate the rear or upper end of the tilting lever-bar H with'which said The pull of the Windlass on' bars are connected by pivot 6. At the same time these traveling lever-bars H are being operated as levers on pivot e, for effecting an elevation of the rear end of tilting lever-bar H, the draft of rope g on the sheave end f of bars H will operate through pivot e to move the rear or upper ends of the base leverbars H upward toward a vertical position, and in this movement the pivot 6 will itself be carried upward and forward, and thereby cause pivot e of bars H with bar H to be carried forward and upward at the same time the foot end of bar H is being carried toward the sheave ends of bars H. These several movements of the respective lever-bars will be progressive as windlass G is operated, and the united movements of these bars from their respective positions shown by full lines in Fig. 1 to that of dotted lines in the same figure and full lines in Fig. 4, will effect the vertical extension or projection of the roller end h of lever-barl'l, and thereby elevate the rear end of ladder L above the horizontal plane of the same shown by full lines in Fig. 1. The inclination of ladder L can be increased or lessened accordingly as the windlass G is operated. The auxiliary parallel bars H ll operate to steady the lower end portion of the tilting lever-bar H, and give to that bar a second support from a point about at the middle of length of base-bars H H, with which these auxiliary bars H are pivoted. The slotst in these bars Hf operate to permit pivot e to more thereon, so that tilting leverbar H will be permitted to assume without binding or strain the position of dotted lines H, while the other bars H, H, and H will remain in position of full lines, Fig. 1, so that the ladder L will be allowed to come to its support on stops R 1%, Figs. 1 and 2, and thus afford a greater power at the start to elevate the ladders by the increased leverage.

When ladder]; has been elevated on the angle desired, windlass G will be operated by hand-wheel 1, when the pull of the drum of the windlass on the ropes 7.: will operate to move sliding ladder L rearwardly and upwardly, and thereby effect an extension of the distance of the rear end of said sliding ladder above the foot end of the main ladder.

The windlasses G G are each provided with racks and pawls for holding their respective drums from being turned back by the pull of their respective ropes, g and k, caused by the weights of the parts these ropes move. Vindlass G is provided with frictionstrap t, operated by treadle t, and when the ladders are to be lowered to position of full lines, Fig. 1, the operator will press on treadle t to cause friction-strap t to bite on the friction-surface secured to the shaft of the Windlass, and thereby retard the revolving of the drum, as it is acted on by the force of gravity of the ladders and the elevating mechanism through ropes and enable the operator to gradually lower the ladders without any shock or jar to the apparatus. Windlass G is also provided with a similar friction-strap tand treadle t, for like operation of retarding the revolving of the drum of said Windlass and lowering ladder L in a slow and easy manner. \Vhen sliding ladder L has been moved upward on the main ladder L and secured in its extended situation, the operator can readily adjust the extended rear end of ladder L to any desired position in relation to any opening of the building to be communicated with, by simply operating pinion a in a suitable direction, so that byits action with the circular rack O the turntable will be moved to move the ladders to the position required to effect the adjustment of the extended end, as may be required.

Vhen ladder L has been extended with its rear end at any window or other opening of a building, or the roof of the same, the escapecarriage N can be readily moved from the foot of ladder L up over the incline tracks 8 s to such window or roof, by operating gear mechanism 1 in a suitable direction to revolve Windlass P, and by winding up rope p on the drum of the same draw said carriage up to tlr opening or roof, as may be required. A re. erse operation of this gear mechanism will effect a lowering of this carriage. Vhen this escape-carriage N is not in use, it will have place and support on platform E and be in an inclined position at the foot of ladder L, to serve as a short ladder for access from said platform to said ladder and return. \Vhen sliding ladder L islowered, the ropes p, for hauling this escape-carriage N,will be slackened and spread sufficiently apart to admit the passage of the foot end of said ladder between, without disturbing the said carriage.

If preferred, both the windlasses G and G can be operated at the same time for elevating the ladders and extending the same, and when preferred, the turn-table can be operated at the same time to adjust the position of the rear end of the ladder at such location as may be desirable.

The Windlass P, or its gear mechanism P, operating the escape carriage or car N, can be provided with a frictioirbrake, which can be operated by a person from platform E. The drawings show the windlass to be provided with variable gear,with a clutch between, so as to be operated with a fast or slow motion, or be entirely detached from the gearing when the clutch is midway between, so that an operator on platform E can, by control of the friction-brake, regulate the descent of the escape carriage or car without recourse to crank z. The folding end piece, N, can be adjusted at different angles in relation to the sides of the body of the carriage or car N by the connecting ropes or chains q (1 being lengthened or shortened; and when this end piece, N, is adjusted, so as to be on a horizontal plane, and secured by said ropes or chains it can be used as a platform, carrying up firemen with hose in hand for operating on a fire, as well as for removing persons from buildings on fire.

The operating parts of the elevating mechpivotal point of contact with the ladder must necessarily move on a curved line, yet, notwithstanding the lower ends of the levers, where the rope exerts its power upon them, are preserved in a nearly horizontal relation, so necessary for the proper operation of the whole mechanism.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is I 1. In fire-escapes, the combination, with a ladder having its feet end pivoted to a stationary part of the apparatus, of the lever mechanism H, H, and H and a Windlass-power op erating said mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the elevating mechanism composed of leverbars H H, H H, and H jointed together, substantially as described, of the parallel bars H H and Windlass-power above described, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the elevating mechanism above described, composed of lever-bars H, H, and H arranged and jointed together as described, of the parallel bars H provided with slots '17, and windlass-rope and Windlass operating with said levers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with platform E, supporting a ladder which is pivoted thereto, and the elevating mechanism H H H and windlass-power, above described, arranged between said platform and ladder, of a turn-table operated at will, and which is secured to said platform, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'5. The combination, with the pivoted main ladder Land elevating mechanism H HH above. described, and its operating-Windlass G, and its ropes, of the sliding ladder L,windlass G, sheaves K,- secured to the rear end of the main ladder, and ropes k, connecting the sliding ladder with the drum of said Windlass, whereby the two ladders can be at will simultaneously elevated at the time the sliding ladder is being extended, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a fire escape having a ladder and mechanism which will elevate the same to any desired angle, of tracks 8 s, secured to said ladders, and the escape-carriage N, made with the folding piece N, which can be set at any preferred angle in relation to the ladder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination, with ladder L, provided with tracks, 8 s, and ladder L, provided with similar tracks 8 s, and inclined tracks 8 s, for connection of the tracks of the latter ladder with those of the former, and the mechanism to elevate and extend at will said ladders, of the escape carriage N, above deseribed,windlass P, and ropes 19, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

LEVI DEDERIOK \Vitnesses:

ALEX. SELKIRK, CHARLES SELKIRK. 

